EAST PROVIDENCE — Even before being sworn in, the new City Council majority has announced plans to fire the longtime city solicitor and eight other two-year appointees.

City Manager Richard M. Brown’s job is safe for the time being, but soon-to-be Ward 2 Councilman Brian G. Coogan said he has “no problem” letting Brown go if he doesn’t “produce” to his liking.

“The city voted for change and I’m going to show them I am change,” Coogan said.

He, Ward 1 Councilman Robert E. Cusack and former Mayor Joseph Larisa Jr., this election’s council at-large winner, agree the nine appointees should be replaced and they have found replacements for all of them. Said Larisa, “It’s the same reason [President-elect] Barack Obama isn’t keeping any of Bush’s Cabinet.”

City Solicitor William J. Conley Jr. was given the news yesterday. He was appointed an assistant city solicitor in 1982 and has held his present position since 1984.

“I am extremely disappointed,” said Conley, a city resident, who also is legal counsel to the state Ethics Commission and is one of Johnston’s assistant town solicitors. “I have to be honest, it has been a labor of love. It is the highlight of my professional career.”

Also being let go are Assistant Solicitors Gregory S. Dias and Timothy Chapman, who came in the 1980s. City Sergeant Joseph Connors, Municipal Court Judge Michael J. Farley, Probate Judge Ralph Dellarosa and Deputy Probate Judge Christine Engustian — who all started in the 1990s — are also getting the ax. City Clerk Virginia Nunes and Peter Bedrosian, the sealer of weights and measures, aren’t being reappointed either. The two came on board in the last election two years ago.

Coogan, Cusack and Larisa said the departing employees were good workers and Conley, in particular, “gave solid legal advice to the council.” They said that is why they gave them the “professional courtesy” of letting them know ahead of time rather than after the new council is sworn in, on Dec. 1 at 7 p.m. in City Hall.

“After so many years of people serving, I think change is good,” Cusack said, noting the replacements could have new ideas to improve the city.

Although all have not been identified, former Central Falls Solicitor James A. Briden, a Rumford resident, will succeed Conley. The new assistant solicitors will be Charlestown Solicitor Robert E. Craven and Matthew T. Oliverio, of Oliverio & Marcaccio, the Providence law firm that represented Cranston in its Caruolo fight. Oliverio is also South Kingstown’s lawyer. The new city clerk will be Kim Casci, a member of U.S. Rep. James R. Langevin’s staff who helped Larisa with several of his campaigns.

Councilwoman Valerie Perry said long-serving employees are valuable for continuity and their knowledge of the city’s past, but that changes are a part of politics.

“I survived 14 years [as city clerk], but you worry every two years,” Perry said. “You never know what direction the political wind will blow and we now have a new coalition.”

Larisa said the new team is “going to protect the taxpayers” by looking at all ways to save money. He said priorities include the schools deficit, having the financial summit Cusack requested a year ago and sitting with the School Committee to discuss consolidation, health care and other issues. He said this council “fully supports the new School Committee as well.”

Larisa said canvassing reform, which isn’t a financial matter, will also be a priority.

Larisa said he has “no plans” to get rid of Brown, the city manager, but the City Charter empowers the council to terminate his employment by a majority vote. Larisa approved Brown’s hiring in 2006 and said he hopes the city manager meets the “performance benchmarks” the new council will set for him.

Coogan said he will support Brown’s dismissal “if need be” but wants to see how he “produces first.”

“I have been tough on him at times in city meetings, but he’s a professional manager,” Cusack said. “I just thought he didn’t go far enough with being aggressive with finding savings. We’re going to give him clear direction and mandates this time.”

apina@projo.com